I refuse to buy any MP3 players that require software, or have mandatory tie-ins to music services. I have a very large library of ripped MP3's that I install by copying the MP3 files over to my current MP3 player as I would copy files over to any USB mass-storage device or external hard drive.

The trend among manufacturers is to force users to use online stores, because the manufacturers cut deals with the online MP3 sellers -- which of course necessitates software, and since that software is infected with DRM bloat -- the end result is your computer *will* run slower.

Question: which if any Sansa products require zero software, and just allow users to copy songs directly to the MP3 player memory like a USB thumbdrive? (My iRiver currently does this, but I'm thinking about changing it up to a more recent player).

Thanks in advance.

(And no, I don't believe the software is "not that bad". I work in the business. I trust no one's mp3 storefront software. It's all crap).